Coin receptacle



I June 2, 1936.

w. H. HARVEY COIN RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 8; 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W H. HARVEY A TTOR/VEV June 2, 1935. 4 w. H. HARVEY COIN RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1955 INVENTOR By W.H.HARVEY AT TORNE Y Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 8,

17 Claims.

This invention relates to covers for coin boxes or receptacles and more particularly to covers for coin receptacles of the type used in telephone coin collectors, such a receptacle being described, for example, in United States Patent 1,121,063, issued December 15, 1914 to W. 0. Beck.

An object of the invention is the prevention of fraudulent removal of the contents of coin receptacles.

Cash receptacles used in telephone coin collectors are ordinarily furnished with a hinged cover which has an opening therein through which the collected coins pass. A sliding shutter is usually provided for closing the coin receiving opening. A projection carried by an extension of the shutter is adapted to engage with a portion of the coin collector housing when the coin receptacle is placed therein, this engagement being effective, when the receptacle is being inserted in the housing, to move the shutter to open position and being effective, when the receptacle is being removed, to move the shutter to closed position. Means is ordinarily provided for automatically locking the shutter in closed position.

In accordance with the usual practice the empty coin receptacles are prepared for distribution at a central cashiers office. Before the cover is placed on the receptacle the locking means is set in free position, i. e., a position which allows the shutter to move to open position. The cover is now placed in position on the receptacle. The receptacles are then taken by designated employees to be placed in the coin collectors. As the receptacle is inserted in the housing the shutter is moved to open position as stated above and the locking means is ordinarily so arranged that before the receptacle is fully inserted, the locking means is tripped and moved into locking position. Now when the filled receptacle is later withdrawn the shutter is closed as above mentioned, the locking means then being effective to hold the shutter in closed position.

According to a feature of the invention insertion of the receptacle to the proper point in the housing is prevented if the locking means be blocked and held from moving to locking position when tripped.

In accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention the shutter locking means comprises a pawl mounted on the underside of the cover and operating in conjunction with a notch provided on an extension of the shutter plate. The pawl may be biased in either of two positions, locking or free by a spring. When in locking position the pawl engages with the notch and 1935, Serial No. 35,225

prevents moving the shutter to the open position. The arrangement contemplated by the invention is such that the shutter is prevented from moving to its fully opened position if the pawl be so blocked, fraudulently or accidentally, that it is prevented from freely rotating to locking position when tripped. The fact that the shutter is, under these conditions, prevented from completing its opening movement indicates, of course, that the receptacle cannot be inserted to the proper position in the coin collector housing for, as previously pointed out, a projection of the shutter engages with a portion of the housing as the receptacle is inserted therein, this engagement being effective to progressively move the shutter to open position as the receptacle is moved back to its proper position in the housing.

In accordance with a modification of the invention, means is provided for preventing accidental or fraudulent disengagement of the locking pawl and the notch in the shutter.

A complete understanding of the operation of the receptacle cover contemplated by the invention and of the various advantageous features thereof may be gained from consideration of the following detailed description and the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the underside of a coin receptacle cover of the type contemplated by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the inner plate of the cover showing the arrangement of the shutter and locking pawl, the pawl being in looking position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the inner plate shown in Fig. 2, a part of the casing being broken away to show the pawl spring;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the coin receptacle cover as the coin receptacle is being inserted in the coin collector, a part of the outer wall of the cover being broken away to show the position of the shutter and locking pawl;

Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of the inner plate showing the pawl in free position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, the shutter being shown in contact with the pawl and about to trip said pawl to locking position; and

Fig. '7 is a top view of a portion of the inner plate showing a modification of the pawl arrangement whereby fraudulent or accidental operation is prevented.

Referring now to the drawings and first to Fig. 1, a coin receptacle cover I l is shown which comprises an outer plate I2 (Fig. 4) to which is attached, by rivets or otherwise, an inner plate I3. A coin receiving opening I 6 is provided. in the plates, a shutter I! for closing said opening being rotatably mounted on inner plate i3 by pivot 18. A formed spring 2|, also mounted on inner plate [3, serves to normally hold shutter ii in closed position with respect to opening it. An extension arm 22 of shutter I! extends upward through slot 23 provided in outer .plate 12 (Fig. i) and then laterally beyond the edge of the cover as shown.

A pawl 26 is rotatably mounted on the upper side of plate l3 (Fig. 2) a projection carried by arm 21 of the pawl being positioned inrslo-t1-'28" which is provided in the plate. A biasingspring.

3| is mounted on the undersidei'of plate Iii (Fig.

3) being enclosed by casing32. One end of-the spring is attached to projection 33 of plate I3 while the other end is attached to the projectioncarried by arm 21, referred to above.

A coin leveling hole 34 is provided in the plates through which a -pencil orother instrument may beinserted-upon occasionto-le'vel 01f the accumulated coins.-

Rieferririg now, for the'moment, to Fig. 4, the manner in which shutt'er IT is moved to open position with respect to coin receiving opening it as the coin receptacle is inserted in the coin colle'cto-rhousing is'illustrated. A portion 36 of the guide rail 'which is attached to the coin collector housing -'is shown; the guide "rail being provided with an aperture 31in which arm 22 is positioned when the receptacle isplaced in the --housing. Then y-asthe receptacle ispushedba'ck into-posi tion in the housing inthe direction indicated by the-arrow, arm'22 is" prevented from moving by its-"contactwith the edge of aperture 31 so that the shutter=is; ineffect, moved to open position withrespect to coin receiving opening l6. Conversely, when the receptacle is being moved in the opposite direction, that is, when it is being withdrawn from the housing, the shutter is, in effect, moved to closed position with respect to opening I63 The respective dimensions and "arrangement of the coin receptacle and the coin collector housing are such-that it is impossible to "insert the receptacle"- in the'housing without fir'st'positioning arm 22 in aperture 31.

Before the coin'receptacleflis inserted in the coin-collector housing, locking pawl 26 should,of course, be set in free position. to allow shutter! I to 'be moved .to' 'openpositio-n as. above described. Theipawl is shown; in locking ,position. in Fig. ,2, tip 4 I of said pawl being positioned in notch 42 of shutter. I! in such a manner that rotationof the-shutter towards open position is prevented.

In order to move'the pawl to free position, a suitable. tool is inserted through aperture 43. of casing;32- (Fig 1), this. action taking place,.of course,

before the cover hasbeen placed in position on the coin'recepta'cleyand the pawl isrotated by said tool to the free position shown in Fig; 5., Spring 3| tends to biaspawl 26'; in whichever direction it may be rotated beyond the dead center position. It will .be noticed that in the position of Fig. 5, tip of. pawl 26 is. not in contact with notch 42 and the pawl does not, therefore, hinder rotation of the shutter.

Pawl .26 having. beenset. in free ..position,--as above mentioned, cover-1 I iseplaced .on the coin receptacle land-sealed, after; .which the receptacle may be inserted in the coin collector housing; N0w,-as stated above-the shutter opened as. the receptaclehisinserted in-the mousing. and :as the shutter -'starts. to lopengfantedge;thereofisbrought into contact with arm 21 of pawl 26 (Fig. 6) and as rotation of the shutter continues this contact is effective to rotate pawl 25 against the biasing action of spring 3| until said pawl reaches the position shown in Fig. 4. The dead center position having been passed, the biasing action of spring 3| is now in the opposite direction to that of Fig. 2 and tends to hold the pawl in the position of Fig. 4. .While. tip 4| of the pawl is inlcontact withthe edge of the shutter in this position, the rotation of the shutter is not retarded thereby as that portion of the edge contacted is smooth andpresents no notches or other forms of recessed portions in which tip M of the pawl may lodge.

Pawl 26 remains in the position of Fig. 4 while the shutter is moved to the fully opened position. As the receptacle is later being removed from the housing and as the shutter is moved to closed position, tip M of the pawl rides along the edge surfaceof the shutter until, as the fully closed positionis' reached, notch 42 is brought into registry with tip 4| which thereupon'drops into the notch due to the biasing action of spring 3| thereby locking the shutter in closed position (Fig. 2).

After the coin receptaclehas 1 been removed from the coin collector, the seal is broken by an authorized person and the cover removed from the receptacle. Before the cover is replaced, the pawl is" reset in free position as mentioned above.

It willbe apparent from the above description that insertion of thecoin receptacle to its normal position in the coin collector housing is prevented if pawl 26 is accidentally or fraudulently disabled in such a manner that it is prevented from rotating to thelocking position. Let us assume, for example, that pawl 25 is blocked inthe free position-of'Fig. 5 either by--stufiing slot 28 or, perhaps, by distorting parts of the pawl itself. As the receptacle is inserted in the housing and as movement of shutter I 1 toward the open position takes" place, the edge of the shutter is brought into contact with arm 2'! as shown in Fig. 6. Now,

as'pawl 26 is prevented from rotating to the free 4 valuablefeature of the invention providing, as it I does, an indication of fraudulent or accidental impairment of the locking arrangement and preventing inadvertent placing in service of coin receptacles which are not in proper working order.

Referring nowto Fig. 7 a modification of the arrangement-is disclosed in accordance with which means are included which cooperate with the locking pawl'to prevent accidental or fraudulent operation thereof." so far as the general arrangement and operation of the mechanism are concerned it is-similar to that just described in detail so it is not believed necessary to completely illustrate in Fig. 7 or to again describe in detail the features of the present modification which are common to the form just described. There is showninFig. 7 a portionof an inner. plate 653 of a coin receptacle which is similar to plate I3 previously described andwhich is provided with a similar. coinreceiving opening. A shutter 6! for closing the opening isprovided which is of similar form and operates in-a similar. manner to that of shutter I! previously described. A locking-pawl-BZ is mountedon plate so and .0 erates in a.similar manner. tothat of. pawl. 26, being provided with a-tip 83 which isadaptedto en'gage in notch 64 of shutter 6|. An extension of arm 65 of the pawl is positioned in slot 66 of the plate, one end of biasing spring 61 being attached to said extension. A spring 68 serves to normally hold shutter 6| in closed position being similar in form and function to spring 2! previously described. A rotatable member H is mounted on plate 6|] by means of pivot 12, said rotatable member comprising two arms 13 and 74. Arm (4 is provided with a socket-like end which is adapted to receive the end of arm 65 of pawl 62.

Member H is free to rotate on its pivot l2 and does not interfere in any way with the normal operation of .pawl 62. However, should a fraudulent attempt be made to release the pawl from its locking position by twirling or striking the coin receptacle in such a manner that the resulting centrifugal force would tend to rotate pawl 62in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon thereby throwing tip 63 out of its locking engagement with notch 64 (or should such action occur accidentally) centrifugal force would also tend to rotate arm 13 in the same direction as indicated by the arrow thereon. Now this rotation of arm 13 would, of course, tend to rotate arm 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, this being the opposite direction to that in which arm 65 tends to rotate. The weight of arm 73 is somewhat greater than that of pawl 62 so that the force produced in arm 14 is sufiicient to overcome that produced in arm 65, the result being that rotation of pawl 62, by the method above referred to, is prevented.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been selected for detailed description, the invention is not, of course, limited in its application to the embodiments described. For example, while a notch has been shown on the shutter for cooperating with the locking pawl, a shoulder, step or various other forms of recessed portions or projections might be provided instead of the notch. Further, the pawl might act in conjunction with the end surface of the shutter itself. In short, the embodiments specifically described should be taken as illustrative of the invention rather than as restrictive thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover movable from a position closing said opening to a position unobstructing said opening, a pawl mounted on said cover, means on said shutter for cooperating with said pawl to hold the shutter in closed position,

means effective when said cover is in position closing said box for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, the pawl being in the path of said first means in one of said positions and being out of the path of said first means in the other of said positions, and means for preventing complete movement of said shutter to said unobstructing position when said pawl is temporarily held in its said other position.

2. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover movable from a position closing said opening to a position unobstructing said opening, a pawl rotatably mounted on said cover, means on said shutter for cooperating with said pawl to hold the shutter in closed position, a spring for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, the pawl being in the path of said means in one of said positions and being out of the path of said means in the other of said positions and means for preventing any substantial movement of said shutter from said closing position to said unobstructing position before the pawl has moved to its first-mentioned position.

3. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover movable from a. position closing said opening to a position unobstructing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl mounted on said cover, means for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, the pawl being in the path of the notch in one of said positions and being out of the path of the notch in the other of said positions and means for preventing complete movement of the shutter to said unobstructing position before the pawl has moved to the first mentioned position.

4. A coin receptacle comprising a. coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl mounted on said cover for cooperating with said notch to hold the shutter in closed position and means effective when said cover is in position closing said box for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, said pawl being effective in one position to cooperate with said notch to hold the shutter closed and being ineffective in the other position to hold the shutter closed.

5. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box,

a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl rotatably mounted on said cover for cooperating with said notch to hold the shutter in closed position and a spring for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, said pawl being effective in one position to cooperate with said notch to hold the shutter closed and being ineffective in the other position to hold the shutter closed.

6. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a. coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl mounted on said cover for cooperating with said notch to hold the shutter in closed position, means effective when said cover is in position closing said box for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, said pawl being effective in one position to cooperate with said notch to hold the shutter closed and being ineffective in the other position to hold the shutter closed and means carried by said shutter for causing movement of said pawl from the ineffective position to the effective position.

'7. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl mounted on said cover for cooperating with said notch to hold the shutter in closed position and means effective when said cover is in position closing said box for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, said pawl being elfective in one position to cooperate with said notch to hold the shutter closed and being ineffective in the other position to hold the shutter closed and means carried by said shutter for causing movement of said pawl from the ineffective position to the effective position, said last-mentioned means being effective to cause said movement of the pawl before the shutter reaches its fully open position with respect to the coin receiving opening in the cover.

8. A coin receptacle comprising a box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein,

cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter onsaid cover for closing said opening;a pawl'mounted on said cover, means-on said shutter for cooperating with said pawl to hold the shutter in closed position,means efiective when said cover is-=in position closing said box for biasing the pawl in either of two positions, the pawl being eifective to cooperate withsaid means on the shutter in one of said positions and being inefiective to cooperate with saidmeans in *1" the other position and means carried by said shut-- ter and "contacting said pawl for causing moveinent of said pawl from the inefiective position to the effective position'when said shutter is being moved from said closing position.

10. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a

cover therefor having -a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing said opening, a pawl rotatably mounted on said cover, means on said shutter for cooperating with said pawl to hold the shutter in closed position, means 1 other position, and means carried by the shutter and contacting said pawlior causing movement of the pawl from the ineffective position to the effective position.

11. A coin receptacle comprising acoin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover movable f'rom'a position closing said opening to a position unobstructing said opening, a pawl mounted on' said 'cinren-means on said shutter for cooperating with said pawl to hold the shutter in the closed position, means for biasing the pawl in either of'two positions, the pawl being 'effective'to cooperate with said means on the shutter in one; of said positions and being ineffective to cooperate with said means in the other of said positions and means on said pawl cooperating with a portion of said shutter for preventing complete movement of the shutter to said unobstructing position before the pawl has moved to said effective position. V

12. A coin receptacle comprising a box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving opening therein, a shutter-on said cover for closing said opening, a notch in said shutter, a pawl mounted on said cover for cooperating with said notch to hold the shutter in closed position, an extension on said pawl, a, spring for biasing said pawl in either of two positions and a casing for enclosing said spring and said extension, said casing having an aperture therein through which a tool for manipulating said extension may be inserted.

13. A coin receptacle comprisinga coin box, a cover therefor having a coin receiving, opening therein, a shutter on. said cover for closing said opening, a notch in: said shutter-,1 said shutter; he ing movable 1 fromv a position unobstructing said opening to a position closing said opening; a pawl rotatably mountedon the cover-,aniextension arm and a; projecting tip on the --pawl; a spring for biasing-the pawl in either of two'positions-,.qone end of'the spring being attachedto the cover'and the other end being 'rattached to' said extension arm, said projecting tip beingyin-the path 70f said notch in one of said positions of: the pawl and being out of the path:of the notchain-theiother of said positions, means on the pawl adapted tobe engaged by a tool for movement of: the pawl: to said position inwhich said tip risxout'of the path of the notch and means. on the shutter for'causing movement of thepawl'to the other zof said positions. 7

14. A coin receptacle comprising. 'a-coin-box,r:a cover therefor havingra 'coin receiving :opening therein, ashutter :onsaid covertfor closing :said opening, a pawl mounted on :the cover for 1cooperating 'withanedge: of the-'shut'terzrto hold said shutter inclosed position;meanstefictive when said cover is in position closing. said box for biasing the 'pawl'in either. of' two positions, the pawl being in-the path of said'edgeof the shutter in one of *said positions and. beingout' of the path of said edge in'the other'of said positions and means carried by said shutter and contacting said pawl for causing movement of the pawl fromdts last-mentioned position to itsfirst-mentio'ned po-- sition when said shutter: isbeingimoved from said closing position. i V

15. A coin receptacle comprising a box; a cover therefor having a coin receiving openingtherein, ashutter on said cover for -closing said open ing, a notch in'said shutter, a pawl erot atably mounted on the cover-for cooperating with said notch to hold the-cover in closed position and means for preventing rotation of "the pawlclue to centrifugal force.

16. A coin receptacle comprising a box, a cover therefor having'a coin'receivingmpening therein, a shutter onsaid coverforclosing said opening, a "notch in said shutter; a epawl "rotatably mounted on'the cover for cooperatingwith said notch to' hold the cover in closed position and means for preventing rotation of the pawl due to centrifugal force, said meansc'omp rising a rotatable member comprising two arms, one of said arms being adapted to engage said pawl and the other of said arms being soarranged and positioned that any force tendingto produce centrifugal action in the pawl tendsto produce a similar centrifugal action in said other arm.

1'7. A coin receptacle comprising a box, a-cover therefor having a coin'receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for-- closing said opening, a pawl rotatablymounte'd-on-the covenan extension arm on the pawl, means onithe shutter for cooperating with said pawl to holdthe shut; ter in closed position, said cover "having an arcu-, ate slot therein for receiving said extension arm and limiting the rotation of said pawl ineach direction, and means efiective upon rotation of the pawl in either direction beyond its dead center position for biasing. the pawl in thatdirectionm WILLIAMv H. HARVEY; 

